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What purpose did the mihrab added to Hagia Sophia serve?
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Hagia Sophia
A bird's-eye view of Hagia Sophia on the shore of the Bosporus, Istanbul.
The mihrab added to the Hagia Sophia serves as a prayer niche that indicates the direction of Mecca for those performing Islamic prayers.12
Following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II repurposed the structure as a mosque. The addition of the mihrab was part of a series of modifications intended to align the building with Islamic tradition, ensuring that worshippers could correctly orient themselves toward the qiblah (the direction of Mecca) during their devotions.132